Milford criticized over LIFT bus contribution

Wednesday

Jun 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 27, 2007 at 12:14 AM

HOLLISTON - Anticipating that Milford may not join in paying its share for the LIFT bus on July 1, selectmen want public input on just how far they want buses to take Holliston passengers into the neighboring town.

Joyce Kelly, DAILY NEWS STAFF

Anticipating that Milford may not join in paying its share for the LIFT bus on July 1, selectmen want public input on just how far they want buses to take Holliston passengers into the neighboring town.

As a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) member, Holliston's gross cost for the LIFT service starting July 1 is $130,022, while Milford, a non-RTA member, does not have to pay anything unless it joins the RTA, according to Ed Carr, the administrator of the MetroWest RTA.

Holliston selectmen discussed the issue Monday night, with Carl Damigella saying Milford has "got to pony up" some money to continue taking advantage of the service.

The funding issue is being discussed now because the MetroWest RTA officially assumes the contractual obligations for LIFT service from the town of Framingham on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, Carr said. Up to this point, the state had given Framingham money to run the LIFT service, he said.

"Milford is not a member... they are receiving services for which they don't pay," Carr said.

The gross cost of running the bus through Milford is $71,392, for using 17.9 percent of the LIFT bus 6 service, according to Carr. Holliston, by comparison, accounts for 32.6 percent of the bus 6 trips. The percentages are based on the number of miles the bus runs through a town, said Carr.

A portion of Holliston's RTA bill will be covered by its MBTA assessments, as RTA service is credited against MBTA assessments, Carr said.

If Milford chooses not to join the RTA, but the service continues running there, then member communities will have to pick up the cost, he said.

Milford Town Administrator Louis J. Celozzi could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon.

The LIFT route - number 6 - that runs through Holliston starts in Milford, drives through Holliston to Ashland, to Framingham and continues running in that loop, Damigella said Monday night.

Perhaps the bus route could be altered to include Hopkinton, and end at Fortune Boulevard at the shopping plazas, just over the Holliston/Milford line, Damigella suggested.

"Holliston is regularly assessed by the MBTA for something we were never able to take advantage of," he said, referring to a lack of a commuter rail stop in town. "We want input: How many people (from Holliston) use the LIFT for things that go beyond Fortune Boulevard?"

If Holliston selectmen receive feedback requesting service run to Milford Regional Medical Center to make doctor's appointments, for instance, Holliston may lobby Milford for the extension.

"A lot of people now are using the LIFT buses for work ... We want feedback and e-mails," Damigella said.

He suggested the possibility of having the bus route loop from Pago Pago restaurant on Rte. 16 in Milford, past area stores, and down Rte. 85 in Hopkinton.

Selectmen need to know whether Holliston passengers want to use the services farther west, he said.

Ultimately, service may go through Sherborn, Natick, Southborough and Marlborough, if Marlborough leaves the Worcester route, Damigella said.

"Whew. That would be huge," said Chairman Andrew Porter.

(Joyce Kelly can be reached at 508-626-4423 or jkelly@cnc.com.)

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